At 11:00 AM 11/28/97 -0600, Jana C. Allcock wrote:
>On a more optimistic note, wouldn't it be great if we could influence
>the producers of such shows in a positive way to incorporate our
>function into the plot lines?  We know what we do, hopefully doctors and
>nurses know what we do, but our function may be transparent to those not
>in the medical community.

While ER has done a remarkable job of accuracy in comparison to other medical
shows, it isn't even completely up to date on emergency medicine.  For
example, a great many emergency departments across the U.S. aren't staffed
by hospital-employed physicians, but by physicians employed by a contractor
organization, either a group run by one or more physicians or a local or
regional office of a larger organization. Also, there is a specialty of
Pediatric Emergency Medicine (e.g., what Dr. Ross does) but the people who
write and produce this show don't know that!

I've literally grown up with emergency medicine.  When I was 13, my father
was doing weekends in a nearby emergency department: shortly after that, he
became involved with the then quite new ACEP (American College of Emergency
Physicians).  He got his boards in emergency medicine in '87, and got the
sub-board in pediatric emergency medicine last year.  (In addition to some
other boards, one of which he passed in 1962.)

Daddy recommended ER to me, which surprised me, as I long ago got used to
the medical shows chock full of inaccuracies.  It's great to have something
on TV that doesn't show every doctor as being rich, handsome, or universally
loved (and loveable).

>What a tremendous opportunity we have to influence the media prior to
>our 100th anniversary - why not take advantage of it?  MLA or NLM should
>be in contact with the producers of such shows.  Mabye we need a "press
>agent"!!

MLA should look into designating a liaison with the show and contact the
show's producers.  The liaison would probably have to be based in or near
Chicago.

Elizabeth Whitaker
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computer columnist, THE BETHUNE PAW PRINT
http://Web.InfoAve.Net/~elwhitaker  (new version)